Long days of sitting in the office can do a number on your body. Factor in poor posture in a shabby chair without adequate support, and you could experience discomfort that puts a damper on productivity. Instead of slowing progress with an uncomfortable chair, choose one with ergonomics, specially designed for comfort and efficiency.
The best ergonomic chair will help you stay focused on your work without causing strain. These models are designed to keep your spine aligned and your shoulders supported, so you can work away in the office all day, pain-free.
- BEST OVERALL: Hbada Ergonomic Desk Chair
- RUNNER-UP: Funria Ergonomic Office Chair
- UPGRADE PICK: Ticova Ergonomic Office Chair
- BEST FOR BACK PAIN: Sihoo Ergonomics Office Chair
- BEST FOR BACK AND NECK PAIN: NOUHAUS Ergo3D Ergonomic Office Chair
- BEST BUDGET: BestOffice Ergonomic Desk Chair
- HONORABLE MENTION: Gabrylly Ergonomic Office Chair
- ALSO CONSIDER: BestOffice Ergonomic Chair
Photo: depositphotos. com
What to Consider When Buying an Ergonomic Chair
You may spend more time in your office chair on a daily basis than you do in your bed at night. That’s why it’s such an important purchase. Before you start shopping, check out these important considerations. They can make a massive difference in the comfort and suitability of the chair you choose.
Material
Office chairs come in many different materials. From low-priced mesh and plastic to high-end leather, manufacturers choose materials based on price point, comfort, and style.
Chairs made of a mesh material tend to be very affordable. Manufacturers use mesh for the seatback most often, as it doesn’t have to support as much weight as the seat. However, mesh seats are also available, and they’re great for hot offices. These chairs are comfortable and light, and they’ll also keep you cool because of the breathable fabric.
Polyester chairs are also affordable. Manufacturers wrap polyester fabric around foam seats and back panels, making these chairs more comfortable, but potentially less breathable than a strictly mesh chair. Faux leather, leather, and vinyl are also popular materials for office chairs, although they’re less common in the ergonomic realm.
Comfort
As mentioned earlier, you spend a lot of time in your office chair, so it makes sense that you’d want it to be as comfortable as possible. The point of a comfy chair is not to fall asleep but to stay alert and productive while remaining free of pain or discomfort.
To find a comfortable model, you should look for chairs with ergonomic designs that allow you to dial in your seating position with adjustments. You also need support for your back and shoulders. If you can kick back and close your eyes on your lunch break, all the better.
Tilting & Reclining Backrest
Different situations in the office call for an adjustable backrest. You may want to tilt in a more relaxing position while working, or adjust to a more upright position for an important meeting with superiors. If you work from home or in a workplace that allows a more casual environment, deep tilting features can provide solid comfort.
Tilting and reclining backrests allow you to shift your weight onto the backrest, relieving a bit of pressure from your lower back, hips, and bottom. It can also help during a presentation, as you can adjust your angle to see the screen more comfortably.
More important, however, might be the forward tilt that ergonomic chairs offer. With a slight forward pitch, your chair will promote good posture and keep your spine aligned, relieving pressure on the lower back and shoulders.
Seat Depth
Seat depth is essential to ergonomics. If your seat isn’t deep enough, too much of your weight will lack support, causing discomfort in your legs, hips, and back. If your seat is too long, you won’t be able to use the backrest properly, and you’ll suffer the effects of poor posture.
Ideally, you should look for a chair with 17 to 20 inches of depth. This size will allow most people to sit with their spine against the back of the chair while maintaining two to four inches of space behind the knees. Some chairs have adjustments of up to two inches back and forth. These adjustable seats allow you to dial in the proper depth, so your back is comfortable, while your legs find support.
Adjustable Headrest
If you find that your neck hurts during a long conference call, a chair with an adjustable headrest could be just the ticket. These chairs allow you to take some weight off your neck and shoulders, helping relieve some of the most common desk-related aches and pains.
Adjusting your headrest to fit your body type is highly beneficial, though not necessary. Some chairs have four-way adjustability: up, down, forward, and backward to provide a custom fit.
Adjustable Armrests
If you type often, you need to look for a chair with adjustable armrests. Letting your arms hang at your side while you work can be bad for your shoulders and neck. It puts undue stress on these parts of the body, causing long-lasting aches and pains, even after leaving the office.
Adjustable armrests can help support the weight of your arms while allowing you to type or write naturally. Some adjustable armrests slide forward and back, ensuring you have the exact support you need to bang out a lengthy report.
Lumbar Support
Lumbar support is essential to a good quality ergonomic chair. When it comes to maintaining proper posture and relieving back pain, some extra support in your lumbar area is absolutely vital.
Throughout the day, the back muscles that hold your torso upright and support your frame tire, allowing your body to start leaning forward. The best ergonomic chair with adjustable lumbar support will help minimize fatigue and improve your posture.
Fortunately, most office chairs come with adjustable lumbar support. Some use knobs that twist in or out to adjust the depth, while others use inflatable airbags that expand or contract like a blood pressure cuff.
Rotation or Swivel
You might not realize how important a swiveling office chair is, but it can make a world of difference, particularly in a smaller office.
Small offices require smart storage, and sometimes that means keeping things like books, plans, or reports on a shelf behind your chair. A swiveling office chair allows you to rotate around to find the paperwork you need without getting up from your desk.
Swiveling chairs also help avoid knee injuries. If you’re unable to turn your chair away from your desk, you’ll have a hard time getting in and out of your chair without banging your knees.
Our Top Picks
Now that you know how important a chair can be to staying comfortable and pain-free throughout your day at the office, you’re ready to start shopping for the best ergonomic chair. The choices that follow are high-quality and give your body the support and smart design it needs to avoid aches and pains. Check out these chairs to find one that will work for you.
Photo: amazon.com
Most ergonomic chairs look very similar, but the Hbada Ergonomic Desk Chair is an exception. This ergonomic, adjustable chair comes in a fun white finish, so it stands out from the other basic black office chairs. The plastic backing has adjustable lumbar support to help relieve muscle fatigue and sore backs, as well as foldaway armrests, so you can fit the chair more easily into a desk. The Hbada has a tilt lever underneath the seat, which controls the seat’s tilt angle and height adjustment. The Hbada has smooth-rolling casters and a 360-degree swivel to make sliding and turning nearly effortless. Note that the Hbada Ergonomic Desk Chair has a 250-pound weight capacity.
Photo: amazon.com
The Funria office chair is an excellent option if you want sturdy seating with ergonomic features. The Funria has a breathable mesh back and a padded seat to help you stay cool and comfortable all day. It also has a 300-pound weight capacity, making it a very sturdy option—rare for a chair with adjustable height. It swivels 360 degrees, allowing you to reach objects behind you and clear your knees from your desk before standing up. The Funria has built-in lumbar support to help keep your spine aligned and reduce the pressure on your lower back. The armrests flip up and out of the way to slide this chair under any desk.
Photo: amazon.com
While the price is slightly higher than other ergonomic chairs on this list, the Ticova has great value for its impressive features. It has a mesh back to keep you cool and a 3-inch thick seat pad to help disperse your weight evenly. This chair is also highly adjustable: you can dial in the headrest position to fit your height, adjust the height to your desk, and tilt the back to relieve pressure on your lower back. The padded armrests have adjustable heights so you can type and write comfortably. You can also adjust the lumbar support to ease the stress on your back muscles and keep your spine aligned. Ticova provides a maximum suggested weight of 280 pounds.
Photo: amazon.com
Office-related back pain is an issue so many office workers face. The Sihoo Ergonomics Office Chair helps relieve the pressure that causes back pain with its adjustable lumbar support. The chair adjusts just under 2 inches up and down, as well as in and out, allowing you to pinpoint the spot that needs support. The headrest is also adjustable, which you can use to take more pressure off your spine. The Sihoo also has an adjustable height and three preset positions for reclining. This chair has breathable mesh that keeps your back cool and rotates 360 degrees, with swivel wheels for easy maneuverability. The Sihoo Ergonomics Office Chair has a 331-pound capacity and is much more accommodating than others on the market.
Photo: amazon.com
A lot goes into relieving neck and back pain during a long workday, and the Nouhaus tackles both. This chair uses a breathable mesh to keep your back cool. It has three-way adaptable armrests, allowing you to set your arms at the ideal height and distance from your desk. The lumbar support is also adjustable to help relieve pressure and pain caused by poor posture, and to keep your back muscles from fatiguing throughout the day. The Nouhaus’ back and adjustable headrest both feature 3D design technology that hugs your body for optimal support. You can also change the seat’s height to a comfortable level for your legs and hips. The Nouhaus Ergo3D uses rollerblade wheels, allowing you to scoot across your office floor smoothly, as well as a 360-degree swivel. This heavy-duty office chair can support up to 275 pounds.
Photo: amazon.com
Often, office chairs jump in price by a large margin the moment someone labels them ergonomic. Not so with the BestOffice Ergonomic Desk Chair. This chair is incredibly affordable and a solid choice for your office, a dorm room, or anywhere else work takes place. The BestOffice Ergonomic Desk Chair is height adjustable. It also benefits from an ergonomic design, providing lumbar support and promoting healthy posture. The mesh back and soft foam seat pad allow for airflow to help keep you cool. It has a 250-pound weight capacity, as well as a 360-degree swivel and free-rolling casters.
Photo: amazon.com
The Gabrylly Ergonomic Office Chair is definitely worth considering if you’re in the market for a unique-looking chair with plenty of adjustment capabilities. This chair has both a mesh back and seat, providing a ton of airflow to help you stay cool and comfortable. The headrest and seat back adjust, tilting to provide spinal alignment. The Gabrylly also has an adjustable height, 360-degree swivel, and polyurethane casters that allow you to slide across an office floor with ease. It also has a 280-pound weight capacity, and the armrests flip up for easy storage under a desk.
Photo: amazon.com
You don’t have to break the bank to get a comfortable office chair that you can work in all day. The BestOffice Ergonomic Chair features a breathable mesh back and a soft seat pad that cradles your weight and creates a comfortable space to spend your office hours. The BestOffice adjusts in both seat height and back angle, allowing you to find a comfortable position quickly and easily. The armrests flip up and out of the way, making it a convenient choice for desks of all sizes. If you need to relieve some neck pressure, the BestOffice’s headrest adjusts as well. BestOffice does not state the weight capacity of this model.
The Advantages of Owning an Ergonomic Chair
Ergonomic chairs can help you maintain a healthy posture, relieving the stress and discomfort that fatigue and slouching often cause. By keeping your spine aligned correctly, you can avoid aches and pains to focus on the project at hand. This can be a big help, particularly when you’re up against a deadline and pulling long hours.
Ergonomic office chairs can make work easier, which produces better results in shorter time frames. These chairs’ ergonomic designs account for things like reaching into a deep drawer by letting you flip up the armrests. They also allow you to more easily grab things like binders or books from the shelf behind you. Simply rotate to turn around instead of standing up.
Your office chair can say a lot about you as well. It can tell your office visitors that you’re professional, care about your health, and pay attention to the small details. These are the top benefits of ergonomic chairs, in terms of bodily comfort and professional success:
- Ergonomic chairs reduce aches and pains
- You can work more efficiently as ergonomic chairs make work easier
- Ergonomic chairs can provide a professional image
